Hay on Wye CC 161 for 6 Talybont CC 162 for 2

TALYBONT moved to the top of the league with a convincing eight wicket win in the all Welsh derby over previous leaders Hay on Wye in a fiery encounter at the Hay sports field.

After the recent wet weather Bont captain Dan Bowen had little hesitation in asking Hay to bat on a damp wicket. Bont wasted little time making inroads into the Hay line up as Lewis Deacon had Hay captain Tim Masters caught by Lewis Mallon for a duck.

Huw Griffiths (10 overs 4 maidens 1 for 14) getting Lewis Price caught and bowled for a gritty 13 and Hay 31 for 2.

Karl Warn who was making his first appearance of the season was joined by son Ben and the pair added 42 before Ben was bowled by Craig Robinson (10 overs 2 for 53) for 10. Carl Lewis (10 overs 0 for 40) bowled well for Bont with very little luck before Hay stalwart Tim Davies and Warn then got Hay on top as he dug deep. Davies flayed the ball to all parts in his 42 before Robinson got him courtesy of another Mallon catch.

Deacon (10 overs 2 for 54) then returned to get Warn caught by Guy Williams, a vital blow as Warn was beginning to put his foot on the accelerator as he was dismissed for 79 which included nine boundaries and three sixes.

Bont then claimed their third bowling point with a good piece of fielding by Richard James which saw Freddie Towersley run out for one and the Hay innings closing on 161 for 6 and three batting points, a fine effort in tricky conditions.

In reply to the testing total, Bont started steadily with Dan Bowen and Craig Robinson adding 41 in 10 overs before Robinson was first to depart, caught and bowled by Matthew Griffiths (8 overs 1 for 38) for 13.

Richard James then continued his recent run of form with the bat with a brief 16 before he was stumped to a sharp piece of glove work by warn off the bowling of Tim Davies (3 overs 1 for 23).

At 61 for 2 the game was in the balance until Huw Griffiths joined his captain and the pair with a mixture of Bowen’s determination and Griffiths brutal hitting of anything wayward saw the pair add a superb partnership of 101 in just 15 overs.

Bowen struck eight boundaries whilst Griffiths powered three boundaries and six maximums in his quickfire 59 not out.

Bowen’s captains innings ended on a fine 46 not out as Bont raced to their target in the 31st over picking up 23 points in the process with Hay earning four points.

A fine win for Bont who opened up a gap of three points at the top over Hay as both the Welsh clubs continue their promotion push. This week sees Bont at home to Bartestree and Lugwardine 4ths with a 1.30pm start.